And that's why Kenny will use those two amnesty buyouts. I think they'll be Sammy & Cola which frees up $5.5m. Doubt it would be Q instead of Cola but that would be $6.775m that way.

I really don't know what's going to happen but if we have to use the amenesty buyouts on two guys just acquired last offseason...Yikes. The purpose of the amnesty buyouts (and, IMO, their best use) is to get out from underneath some of these killer long-term deals that looked like a good idea under the 2005 CBA, but now appear like long-term burdens. The one guy that really strikes me as an amnesty candidate is Mule. On the one hand, his contract is a backdiver, such that his cap hit isn't horrible. On the other hand, he's hurt a lot, and he's kind drifted into that Dany Heatley role of the guy who can maybe score 20 goals for you, but really can't be depended on as a top-line scorer. And we have a LONG way left to go on that deal (2020). His cap hit, while not gigantic, is still considerably higher than Coliacovo or Sammy, and will bruden us for much longer.

Of course for Helm to have trade value, he has to be healthy and playing. But he isn't. This is why trying to find ways to improve this team are tricky. bert, sammy, cola, and q just don't have much value via trades. But most/all sould be replaced.

And that's why Kenny will use those two amnesty buyouts. I think they'll be Sammy & Cola which frees up $5.5m. Doubt it would be Q instead of Cola but that would be $6.775m that way.

Once again why I with those 3 to name a few were offered 1 year deals. But anyways, I hope you're right. Sammy and Colo have been injured the whole year basically and Colo has been mediocre when he has played. Quincey, we could at least hope to trade to a team like the Oilers or Islanders who are beyond pathetic on D.

Of course for Helm to have trade value, he has to be healthy and playing. But he isn't. This is why trying to find ways to improve this team are tricky. bert, sammy, cola, and q just don't have much value via trades. But most/all sould be replaced.

A way to improve this team is to have a healthy Helm on the team and in no way traded. He's our 3rd/4th line centre until he retires a Wing.

Tatar - Datsyuk - Nyqvist

Flippula - Zetterberg - Franzen

Andersson - Helm - Sheahan

Tootoo - Emmerton - Ferraro

Kronwall - Ericsson

Kindl - Cola

Smith - Dekeyser

I dont like Brunner. Floater. Soft.

How many games have you watched this year? Dude hustles as a constant. He's not so tough, but as I stated in a different thread, he's in his 1st NHL season against big competition and he'll benefit from a summer in an NHL weight room. I wouldn't cast him aside. He'll be retained over Emmerton for sure and would get a spot well above Ferraro and even Sheahan.

Once again why I with those 3 to name a few were offered 1 year deals. But anyways, I hope you're right. Sammy and Colo have been injured the whole year basically and Colo has been mediocre when he has played. Quincey, we could at least hope to trade to a team like the Oilers or Islanders who are beyond pathetic on D.

A way to improve this team is to have a healthy Helm on the team and in no way traded. He's our 3rd/4th line centre until he retires a Wing.

How many games have you watched this year? Dude hustles as a constant. He's not so tough, but as I stated in a different thread, he's in his 1st NHL season against big competition and he'll benefit from a summer in an NHL weight room. I wouldn't cast him aside. He'll be retained over Emmerton for sure and would get a spot well above Ferraro and even Sheahan.

How does he improve our scoring? he doesn't. helm is a great defensive C. Our D is fine overall, and will only get better as the young Dmen mature. helm is not now nor will he ever be a guy that scores 20+ goals a season. That is what we need badly. Again, to get quality, you have to give quality. Its not like the RW are short on checkers. We have those. it is scorers that we lack and size/grit that we lack. helm is none of those.

How does he improve our scoring? he doesn't. helm is a great defensive C. Our D is fine overall, and will only get better as the young Dmen mature. helm is not now nor will he ever be a guy that scores 20+ goals a season. That is what we need badly. Again, to get quality, you have to give quality. Its not like the RW are short on checkers. We have those. it is scorers that we lack and size/grit that we lack. helm is none of those.

Wow, you are severely overlooking what Helm brings to the team.

Scoring is not everything in this league, ESPECIALLY for a 3rd/4th line center who is the most integral part of the PK on the entire team. How many teams have 20 goal scorers for their 3rd line center? Those are very unrealistic expectations for a guy who is essentially the new Draper. (Draper hit 20 goals one time in his career, did that make him not valuable to the team?)

Helm will NEVER get traded, as he shouldn't. He holds faaar more value to this team than he would garner in a trade.

Best case scenario they extend Filppula and/or Jimmy for one year until the cap goes back up and then give them their paydays. But at this point you've pretty much got to re-sign Filppula no matter what. If our top six going into next season is any combination of the guys we've got right now, without Filppula, we're in real bad shape.

GMRwings: "Well, in other civilized countries, 16 years old isn't considered underage. For instance, I believe the age of consent is 16 in Canada. There's some US states where it's 16 as well.

Best case scenario they extend Filppula and/or Jimmy for one year until the cap goes back up and then give them their paydays. But at this point you've pretty much got to re-sign Filppula no matter what. If our top six going into next season is any combination of the guys we've got right now, without Filppula, we're in real bad shape.

They still may be able to give them their paydays, just not the way they used to through longer backdiving contracts.

The new CBA has restrictions preventing that but there's no (or at least very liberal) restrictions on pay increases at the front end. So I could see a 7 year term where it's below value to help squeak under the cap the next couple seasons, then takes a significant jump up for the rest of it.

I really don't know what's going to happen but if we have to use the amenesty buyouts on two guys just acquired last offseason...Yikes. The purpose of the amnesty buyouts (and, IMO, their best use) is to get out from underneath some of these killer long-term deals that looked like a good idea under the 2005 CBA, but now appear like long-term burdens. The one guy that really strikes me as an amnesty candidate is Mule. On the one hand, his contract is a backdiver, such that his cap hit isn't horrible. On the other hand, he's hurt a lot, and he's kind drifted into that Dany Heatley role of the guy who can maybe score 20 goals for you, but really can't be depended on as a top-line scorer. And we have a LONG way left to go on that deal (2020). His cap hit, while not gigantic, is still considerably higher than Coliacovo or Sammy, and will bruden us for much longer.

They still may be able to give them their paydays, just not the way they used to through longer backdiving contracts.

The new CBA has restrictions preventing that but there's no (or at least very liberal) restrictions on pay increases at the front end. So I could see a 7 year term where it's below value to help squeak under the cap the next couple seasons, then takes a significant jump up for the rest of it.

Yeah that's a good point, I hadn't thought about it. Either way I think he gets signed, and I think the eventual cap hit will be somewhere in the 4.5-4.75 million range. Which isn't bad considering his versatility and (sad as it is to say) value to a team which might very soon find itself with worse top six issues than it has now.

GMRwings: "Well, in other civilized countries, 16 years old isn't considered underage. For instance, I believe the age of consent is 16 in Canada. There's some US states where it's 16 as well.

Scoring is not everything in this league, ESPECIALLY for a 3rd/4th line center who is the most integral part of the PK on the entire team. How many teams have 20 goal scorers for their 3rd line center? Those are very unrealistic expectations for a guy who is essentially the new Draper. (Draper hit 20 goals one time in his career, did that make him not valuable to the team?)

Helm will NEVER get traded, as he shouldn't. He holds faaar more value to this team than he would garner in a trade.

worrying about the 3rd line C, when we have other options, when we don't have 1st and 2nd line wingers is kinda the cart before the horse. We simply don't have anyone that can score 20+ goals other than Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Which is why we are struggling this year and into the future.

As of today,the RW are 21st in goals scored and 13th in goals allowed. yes Helm can help the second, but he doesn't help the first.

How does he improve our scoring? he doesn't. helm is a great defensive C. Our D is fine overall, and will only get better as the young Dmen mature. helm is not now nor will he ever be a guy that scores 20+ goals a season. That is what we need badly. Again, to get quality, you have to give quality. Its not like the RW are short on checkers. We have those. it is scorers that we lack and size/grit that we lack. helm is none of those.

Helm is the best checker we have, top 3 fastest skater in the NHL, and he has the potential to be a 20 goal scorer but he's been in a checking role his whole career. Make him the 2nd line centre and he pots 20 guaranteed. He also gets the Wings team momentum when everyone else is playing like garbage and can't get anything going. That's one of the ways he improves our scoring. Also, when teams have to chase him around and get tired it opens up more chances for our top lines jumping on to attack a dead line. It happens a lot after a Helm shift.

Helm is the best checker we have, top 3 fastest skater in the NHL, and he has the potential to be a 20 goal scorer but he's been in a checking role his whole career. Make him the 2nd line centre and he pots 20 guaranteed. He also gets the Wings team momentum when everyone else is playing like garbage and can't get anything going. That's one of the ways he improves our scoring. Also, when teams have to chase him around and get tired it opens up more chances for our top lines jumping on to attack a dead line. It happens a lot after a Helm shift.

With all due respect, never going to happen. he isn't a scorer. Not now nor ever. he has never scored 20+ goals at the pro level-minors or NHL, and never will. As you said earlier, he is Draper 2.0, which is great! But would I have trade Draper for Shanny? Hell yes. Twice on Sunday's. Would I trade a 26 year old Helm (if Healthy) for a 26 year old Ryan? Without a second thought. Now that of course is an example, but you get the point.

I understand that EVERYONE has their favorite players. Normal thing for fans. But our favorite players are not doing very well as a team. My favorite TEAM needs to be fighting for Cups, not fighting to just make the playoffs. Under that context, no one is untouchable. Anyone can be moved in the right deal.

New e-book: The Spanish-American War: A Brief History. Relatively short, introductory read for casual history buffs and people who want to learn more about a forgotten war that changed America. Available at BN.com, Smashwords, Kobo, and Diesel E-Books right now. Same link as above.